Woman Gets Probation For Filing False Report Of Sexual Assault

Mary Ann Malik is charged with making up a story that she was raped near her home in Riverside. (Credit: Riverside Police)

MAYWOOD, Ill. (STMW) — A 47-year-old west suburban woman was given probation Monday for falsely reporting a sexual assaulted while walking home from a train last November.

Mary Malik , 47, of Riverside, was sentenced to 18 months probation after being found guilty following a July bench trial at the Maywood Courthouse, before Judge Geary Kull. She was convicted of one felony count of disorderly conduct/filing a false report, according to Riverside police.

The judge also ordered that Riverside police be reimbursed for $1,800 in overtime costs, though Chief Thomas Weitzel had asked for $2,200 in for additional police patrols assigned to the area following the bogus complaint.

As a result of Malik’s allegation, the department added extra patrols to the night shift, increased patrols around the station, reassigned street officers to assist in the investigation, and required extra patrol assistance from Burlington Northern Railroad Police, Weitzel said.

Police reported fear was high among residents over the original report that a woman had been followed home from the train depot at Longcommon Crossing and sexually assaulted in a dark alley.